Trans Fat Alert! 22 Foods to Watch

Trans fat can make food taste good, last longer on grocery-store shelves, and more hazardous for your heart. The good news is that many manufacturers and fast-food chains have removed or reduced this type of fat in their products. That means Americans now consume 80% fewer trans fats than they did a decade ago, says Joy Dubost, PhD, RD, a spokesperson with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

But experts say zero intake is best for health, and there are still foods out there that contain trans fat. Ten years ago it was easier to spot, says Dubost, because it was in most fried foods and packaged crackers, cookies, cakes, and coffee creamers. Today it’s more difficult to tell.

“You have to look at the actual brand,” says Dubost. “You have to do some investigative work.” Here are some potential sources of trans fat to watch out for. (And by 2018 no U.S. foods will contain manufactured trans fat, due to a ban by the Food and Drug Administration.)